Will Akko riots resume on Yom Kippur?
Hundreds of police officers to be deployed in northern city's mixed neighborhoods during Jewish holiday to prevent last year's violence from repeating itself. Many Arab residents to spend holiday away. 'The residents have learned their lesson. They know the heavy price for their actions, and they've all paid it,' says mayor
"Obviously there are extremists that will look for confrontation, but they are a very small minority" said Akko's Mayor Shimon Lankry, adding that "Akko's residents learned their lesson. They know the heavy price for their actions, and they've all paid it."
Lankri said that preparations have been made to avoid future confrontations: "There are many more security cameras in the city, and a larger number of police forces and security officers, but we will not be completely relaxed until after Yom Kippur is over.
"I believe that the holiday will go by peacefully, but regrettably no one can guarantee that peace will be maintained. In any case, we are preparing for any scenario, and will act accordingly."
Some 400 police officers and security guards will be posted around different areas of the city all through the holiday. In addition, roads leading to the eastern quarters, where the riots erupted last year, will be completely closed down.
The police refused to elaborate as to the security procedures put in place, claiming it might lead to unrest, however, according to reports, some 300 police officers will join city forces at the beginning of the week, as well as a private security company and supervisors that were hired by the city's municipality in accordance with police guidance.
'Violators will be dealt a heavy hand'
According to police sources, "deployment will be decided according to existing security estimates. Police will prepare for any scenario. Regardless of Yom Kippur, those who try to disturb the peace will be met with a heavy hand and with no compromise."Security units will be placed in the entrances to the eastern quarters and in the Wolfson neighborhood vicinity, next to the old city, where both Jews and Arabs live.
Police officers will also be posted in the eastern entrance to the shopping center, where cars were stoned last year.
According to Lankry, preventive actions were also taken in informational methods: "Every school has joint Arab-Jewish educational projects. Every religious figure in the city has been recruited to help with this task, and exert influence on the people he knows."
Some of the Arab residences who reside in mostly Jewish neighborhoods decided to spend the holiday away from the city, in order to prevent confrontation and help maintain peace.
"All throughout the years I respected my Jewish neighbors, either leaving the city during the holiday or simply staying at home. It's the least we can do to maintain good neighborly relations and mutual respect," an Arab Akko resident told Ynet.
